How to Shoot Yourself In the Foot (Without Really Trying)

There are many mistakes that job hunters make, some more egregious than others. What follows is a list of the most devastating errors that are bound to cost you your job.

First and foremost: using the exact same cover letter for multiple positions is a definite no no. This is especially detrimental if you’re located in a small community where word gets around!  If you can take the time to personalize a letter to your prospective employer, what does that say about your creativity?

Second: if you pester the HR department relentlessly, calling and e mailing continually, you’ll soon find yourself on the short list of candidates—but not the list you’d hoped for!  No employer likes to feel pressured, and particularly not by someone who doesn’t even work for the company yet!  Chill out, relax and wait for an appropriate moment to re-contact your interviewer.

Third: if your cover letter reads like a holiday travelogue, it’s a sure bet that an employer will be reluctant to consider your candidacy.  Extraneous personal details have no place in a business communication.

Fourth: showing up at a company uninvited is the kiss of death.  You are then perceived not as someone who is persistent (which you ARE) but instead, someone who is a nuisance.

Fifth: lying on your resume, about your title, your salary or your responsibilities is sure to attract attention—negative attention that is.  It just isn’t all that difficult for a prospective employer to get to the bottom of just WHAT happened to your last position.  All he’s got to do is make a few discreet inquiries of people who are in the know, and if what you’ve told him doesn’t jive with what he finds out when he’s asking questions, watch out!  It’s NEVER a good idea to lie on your resume!

Sixth: criticizing your boss—while tempting—is a death knell.  The employer will ask himself what you’d be likely to say about HIM when you leave HIS employ. No company will hire someone they suspect to be a troublemaker or a tattletale..

Bottom line: behave correctly, present an honest picture of yourself and follow the rules when it comes to interviewing.  If you are able to present a detailed picture of your competencies and abilities, you have a good chance of being selected for an interview.